Maternity benefit implies periodical payment to an insured woman in case of confinement or mis-carriage or sickness arising out of pregnancy, confinement, pre-mature birth of child or mis-carriage, certified by a duly appointed medical officer or mid-wife.  For entitlement to maternity benefit, the insured woman should have contributed for not less than seventy days in the immediately preceding to consecutive contribution periods corresponding to the benefits period in which the confinement occurs or it is expected to occur.  The daily rate of benefit is double the Standard Sickness Benefit rate.

Maternity benefit is payable for a maximum period of 12 weeks in case of confinement, 6 weeks in case of mis-carriage and additional one month in case of sickness.  Maternity benefit continues to be payable in the event of death of an insured woman during her confinement or during the period of 6 weeks immediately following her confinement leaving behind a child for the whole of that period, and in case the child also dies during the said period, until the death of the child.